I received a call this morning on my land line from 08453512290 and simultaneously received an SMS message on my mobile.

The call was entirely automated and wanted me to verify a number of recent transactions made against my account.  It verified who I was by asking security information and the transactions it listed were all genuine.

The SMS message said it was important and urgent and requested that I contact Santander on the number 08453512290.

I looked on the saynoto0870 database for the number, but it is not listed.  The first item listed in the Google search (full marks for including that automatic link) that it brought up upon subsequent re-search, however, verifies that the number belongs to A&L.  

However there are many numbers listed in the saynoto0870 database for A & L and it would be useful to have an exact equivalent that gets through to the same department as 08453512290.

hedles wrote on Jun 29^th, 2011 at 8:20am:

However there are many numbers listed in the saynoto0870 database for A & L and it would be useful to have an exact equivalent that gets through to the same department as 08453512290.

The purpose of the alternative numbers database is to list alternatives that have been found to work. It is a vehicle for users to share alternatives, a place for everyone to pool efforts.

It would therefore be useful for there to be an exact alternative listed for every single 08 number in existance. As I say, it's down to users to submit numbers they find and not up to some select group to magically come up with alternatives, which is why in practice not all 08 numbers are listed.

You've looked in the database at A&L entries and there are loads. So in general when looking for an alternative it is advisable to start by looking through the alternatives already there.

hedles wrote on Jun 29^th, 2011 at 8:20am:

I received a call this morning on my land line from 08453512290 and simultaneously received an SMS message on my mobile. The call was entirely automated and wanted me to verify a number of recent transactions made against my account.  It verified who I was by asking security information and the transactions it listed were all genuine. The SMS message said it was important and urgent and requested that I contact Santander on the number 08453512290. I looked on the saynoto0870 database for the number, but it is not listed.  The first item listed in the Google search (full marks for including that automatic link) that it brought up upon subsequent re-search, however, verifies that the number belongs to A&L.   However there are many numbers listed in the saynoto0870 database for A & L and it would be useful to have an exact equivalent that gets through to the same department as 08453512290.

This sounds to me like a complete scam.

I hope your bank account is still intact.

See here

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/08453512290

Hi Sherbert,

> This sounds to me like a complete scam.

Thanks for your opinion.

I can confirm, however, that it is NOT a scam and it was a genuine call from Sandanter.  Did you read the whole of the forum that you pointed me at?   The first page or so with comments dating from 2010 does sound worrying but later on - particularly the last posts from June this year (2011) suggest a different story, and if you look though the forum you can infer what looks like a change or changes of practice by Santander in how they handle these automated calls - possibly due to concerns raised by their customers.

The last post on June 25 has a description of a process very similar to the one that I experienced.

Following your comments and reading the forum, however, I called Santander via a geographic number (0116 201 1000) that I found listed on the saynoto0870 (unconfirmed) database as Alliance & Leicester Customer Service Centre.  In fact, it was their switchboard and the operator had to put me through to customer services when I explained my business.   Customer services contacted their fraud department for me who confirmed that a security call had been made to me today in which I confirmed the genuineness of several transactions.

> As I say, it's down to users to submit numbers they find and not up to some select group to magically come up with alternatives


Sure thing, Dave.  My comment was not a complaint that someone else hadn't done this.  It was merely an advertisement that if anyone did have or find that information it would be useful.

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BTW, I can't see how to get BB code switched on to do those natty block quotes   . . . any clues?

hedles wrote on Jun 29^th, 2011 at 11:12am:

BTW, I can't see how to get BB code switched on to do those natty block quotes   . . . any clues?

At the top right of each post there is a hyperlink "Quote".  ;)

hedles wrote on Jun 29^th, 2011 at 11:12am:

BTW, I can't see how to get BB code switched on to do those natty block quotes   . . . any clues?

If you just hit the word Quote at the top right of the post you wish to quote, you will see the whole post is inserted into your text box preceded by [ quote ] and finished with [ /quote ] (I have put extra spaces into both of those so they don't 'work').

You can, of course, insert those yourself - so cut and paste quotes work too.

Dave wrote on Jun 29^th, 2011 at 11:17am:

hedles wrote on Jun 29th, 2011 at 11:12am: BTW, I can't see how to get BB code switched on to do those natty block quotes   . . . any clues? At the top right of each post there is a hyperlink "Quote".  ;)

Thanks  ;)